Multiple chimes on a single doorbell button

[DL]

We would like to have several (3-4) chimes activated from a single doorbell button. What would the best way to do this.

The searches I have done talk about a more powerful transformer, but no specific wiring instructions.

[RBM]

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Just parallel wire the chimes with heavier tranny. With enough juice all of them will chime when button is pushed. Tony

[Joseph Meehan]

Do you mean you want to have several locations inside you home that chime when the existing door bell is pressed, or do you want to have several buttons at the door that can ring different chimes?

Assuming you want to ring several chimes from one button there are two approaches. One is to provide several conventional chimes where you want them and then using a transformer rated high enough to meet the power requirements for all the chimes added together and you will need some heavier wires (or a relay) to the switch. This is likely to be the most trouble free system, although you may find your self replacing that button a little more often than normal.

The other solution is high tech. The new wireless or X-10 systems will allow you a lot more flexibility but more complexity. Try :

for one source. Many of the same products will be available locally.

[Travis Jordan]

Do you have an intercom system? If so, an electronic chime can be connected to sound through some or all of the speakers. If you have a Nutone system they even make a module for this.

[Travis Jordan]

Another option is to use a high-quality wireless system such as those made by Optex.

[DL]

RBM,

Thanks for the information, I will give that a try. I had tried something close to this, but it didn't work.

As for the power of the transformer, what I see at the HD is that most all run ate 16V and one has a tri-volt 8-16-24V. The two 16V units come in 10W or 15W respectively. Not sure about the watts on the tri-volt unit, as I could not find any information on the packaging. Do I want more volts or watts? My assumption is that the units work on a given voltage, and the watts will give me the additional power I need.

Another thought I had was to use multiple transformers and split the wire coming from the doorbell to two+ separate transformers that will in turn go to their respective chimes.

Thanks,

David

[DL]

Tony,

Thanks for the information,

As I stated to RBM, in relation to the transformer, what I see at the HD is that most all run ate 16V and one has a tri-volt 8-16-24V. The two 16V units come in 10W or 15W respectively. Not sure about the watts on the tri-volt unit, as I could not find any information on the packaging. Do I want more volts or watts? My assumption is that the units work on a given voltage, and the watts will give me the additional power I need.

Again from my response to RBM, another thought I had was to use multiple transformers and split the wire coming from the doorbell to two+ separate transformers that will in turn go to their respective chimes.

Thanks,

David

[DL]

Joseph,

I want to be able to have one button ring multiple chimes, one in the foyer, one in the basement family room, one in my workshop, one at the back of the house in our kitchen area.

I hadn't thought about the X-10 option, so I will look into that. Had considered it for video though.

I will try the parallel wiring the other posters suggested first, and then look into an X-10 solution.

Thanks,

David

[DL]

Travis,

Unfortunately no intercom system, but that is a neat idea.

Thanks,

David

[DL]

Neat option similar to the X-10 recommendation. I will try wiring in parallel first then pursure wireless options.

Thanks again,

David

[Beachcomber]

If you elect to go with the "upgrade the transformer route" look for the VA rating of the transformer (typically 16 VA for small doorbell transformers).

You will need to replace this with a similar transformer (at the same output voltage) with a higher VA rating of 48 or so. You may need to order this item through an electrical supply company, instead of the local hardware store.

This higher VA rated bell transformers are typically used in apartment buildings with the runs are longer and all the units are connected to the same power supply.

Beachcomber

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, As I know, the trannies are 24V and there are few different sizes. Bigger and heavier has more capacity in general. If you go to a supply house and tell them what you need, you can get what you need. My chime is an old motor driven Westminster gong. Regular tranny can't even turn the motor. Or other way is going wireless. Good luck, Tony

[RBM]

[Terry]

The suggestion to use two separate transformers is good one.

1) But only if they are of identical voltage could their outputs be placed directly in parallel to increase the power (wattage) available.

Other wise one could feed into the other all the time and possibly cause overheating. Even a small voltage difference could cause problems. 'Bell/chime' transformers are basically lightly designed for very intermittent use so this would be very undesirable!

2) However it sounds as though it might be possible to have two separate circuits with one transformer serving each chime; with the front door push button completing the the circuit from both.

Although this also 'parallels' the transformers in a manner of speaking, it does it through the two chime units (in series). The rated output voltage of the two transformers however should still be be as close to identical as possible. For eaxample if one transformer was, say 16 volts and the other only 12 volts there would be, with arrangement #2 the difference of four (4) volts '16 - 12 = 4, or a difference of twenty eight (28) 16 + 12 = 28. The former might make the chime units at least 'buzz' or vibrate at a low level all the time. The latter would operate them continuously!

There are some more complicated 'series' circuits, putting both transformer outputs and chimes all in series with the door push that one could suggest.

Simplest if one is not electrically proficient, is get a bigger transformer! But try the single one first; since it's a very intermittent operation, how often IS your door bell rung daily? The existing transformer may be adequate! the only trnsformer I've replaced was burnt out by being on continuously for several months by a door push that 'stuck IN!